Gregory DeAngelis, of Cranbury, N.J.; Larry Usselman, of Harrisburg; and gdeangel40@aol.com correctly identified this week's Pennsylvania Mystery Species as the prickly pear, or Indian fig.

It's a cactus species that grows throughout the eastern U.S., including all of Pennsylvania. Many field guides do not list it as growing in the deserts and prairies of the West, but on a recent trip to Wyoming I spotted it in many areas.

The prickly pear is a highly edible species. The cactus segments, fruits and seeds are all edible, and chewing the segments can provide emergency water. (Warning: Never consume any wild plant without first making a positive identification with the aid of a knowledgeable expert or at least one quality field guide.